Fire extinguisher



a Sept. 30, 1952 c. 1.. ZABRISKIE FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed Feb. 21. 1948INVENTOR 6 -i 22m M m W d A 4 V w [W Patented Sept. 30, 1952 FIREEXTINGUISHER Charles L. Zabriskie, New York, N. Y., assignor to EssexProducts, Inc., New York, N. Y.,v a corporation of New JerseyApplication February 21, 1948, .S erial No.fll,999

This invention relates to-an improved fire extinguis'her, and initssmaller forms to be particularly usable in factories, warehouses,homes, and other like places.

The invention herein relates to an improved construction of fireextinguisher which has the fire extinguishing fluid in a flexiblecontainer, subject to be squeezed to force'arstream of considerablelength to a flame.

The invention also provides for "an improved construction of flexiblecontainer "and a nozzle therefor and a handle associated therewith, sothat the extinguisher may be operated by one hand for the purpose ofspecifically directing the extinguishing fiuid to theme and-forsqueezing the container at the same time so that the fluid will reach aconsiderable distance from the nozzle, thereby allowing the operator tostand a relatively f-ar distance from thefire. It will be noted thatthis improved extinguisher is not ,dependent upon-gravity of the fluidto create sulfi- 2 Claims. (Cl. 169-30) cient force to have thefluidreach a fire of some distance;

' Theinvention'further provides for'an improved flexible type of firefighting fluid container, and the nozzle therefor, and as produced theextinguisher may be e'fiectively operated by one hand so thattheoperator can stand at least an added arms length from the nozzle of theextinguisher itself, thereby gaining the arms length distance from thefire as well-as exertingsqueezing pressure to give an extended length ofstream to reach the fire. This arms length distance is particularlyhelpful as well as having an apparatus that allows the specific ordirect pointing of the nozzle to the bed of the fire or-to such otherpredetermined point of the fire as desired. Such arms length allows aperson to be protected by standing around a corner of a wall and beingable to direct the extinguishing fluid to the fire while at the sametime saving most of his body from the heat of the fire.

The invention also provides'for an improved flexible material forcontaining the fire fighting fluid. Also, this improved inventionprovidesfor a novel type of nozzle by which added length of stream ofthe fire fighting fluid is obtained.

A further feature of the invention provides for an effective andeificient type of handle preferably associated with the nozzle itself ina manner that allows the nozzle to be specifically and directly aimed orpointed at the fire while at the same time'allowing the bag to besqueezed to force the extinguishing fluid from the bag.

' Another advantageous feature of the invention is the provision of animproved type of nozzle with variations in the diameter of the holetherein to preferably provide a Venturi action, whereby the s'treamofthe extinguishing fluid can be extended in length, thus allowing theoperator to stand a further distance from the fire but-to have theextinguishing fluid operate to satisfactorily reduce and extinguish theblaze. Further features of the invention have to do with attachmentsassociated with the nozzle jand-whichtrespond to heat, whereby theextinguishing fluid is kept in the bag until excess heat causes a changeto thereby allow the'fluid toflow from the 'bag or container to'thefire.

Otherfeatures pertaining to a simple, normal type of cap for closing thenozzle and an improved type of support for holding the extinguisher inadesired position in a house, home, factory, or other places is providedand supports the cap so that when the extinguisher is quickly pulledfrom. the support, the cap is automatically thrown fromthe nozzle.

Another ,jimproved feature of the invention is the protecting of the bagjso'that it willnot have holes punched therein by unauthorized personsbut still will be collapsed quickly and easily so that the extinguishingfluid will be forced from the bag.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thedetailed description given below, when taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings. In these drawings,

Fig. 1 is :a side view, partially in section,of the improvedextinguisher as held in position from a support, here shown as beingfastened to a'wall, and a handle associated with the nozzle of theextinguisher is alsoillustrated;

Fig. 2 is a, side view of the extinguisher illustrating one form ofprotector for the flexible bag of the extinguisher;

Fig. 3 illustrates the top view of a portion of support for theextinguisher;

Fig. 4 illustrates a lower portion of the supp r Fig. 5 shows a'type ofstrip or rib holding means for-supporting the extinguisher in a desiredposition;

Fig. 6 illustrates the improved extinguisher with a'spring-pressed balltype of construction of nozzle and a Venturi type of opening in a partof the nozzle; and

Fig. '7 illustrates a modified form of nozzle which provides a frictionjoint which may be forced apartby reason of a thermal element'responsiveto material increases in temperatures.

'composed of a flexible bag or container Referring now to thesedrawings, Fig. 1 illustrates an improved fire extinguisher preferably 8,filled with fire extinguishing fluid l9, and a nozzle 20 sealed or heldto the bag l8 at a desired point and having an opening therein of largerdiameter 2i and a smaller diameter 22 and being provided with a suitabletype of cap 23 for closing the free opening in the nozzle. The nozzle 20is preferably provided with a suitable handle 26 having a relativelylong extension portion which is preferred to be positioned to extendalong the side of the bag I8 so that it may be gripped with the bag.This handle is provided to preferably function to first pull theextinguisher from a support in a particular manner, later to bedescribed, and secondly, to directly and positively aim the nozzle at adesired'part of the fire, and thirdly, to allow the bag to be squeezedagainst the handle so that the extinguishing fluid [9 will be forced outthrough the nozzle directly to the fire.

This improved type of extinguisher may be supported in any'particularselected position in a home or in a factory or in'another place Where afire is liable to start. It is a custom to usually place fireextinguishers near rover stoves, furnaces, .or other spots where theyare handy to extinguish a fire. These extinguishers may be supported inany satisfactory manner.

In the illustration of Fig.1, the extinguisher isshown as supportedclose to a wall 2'! by providing a support 28 which, in this instance,has an upper portion 29 and a lower portion 30. This support 28 is heldagainst the wall by a strap 3| or by any other suitable means that willmaintain the support in a satisfactory position. For purposes of quickand easy operation, this support 28 has its upper and lower portions 29and 30 for the purpose of allowing lower portion 30 to engage a largerdiameteror collar 32 of the nozzle and thereby take practically all ofthe weight of the extinguisher, and the upper portion 29 engages a neckpart 33 of the nozzle inan opening 34, as indicated in Fig. 3. Thisupper portion is split so that the legs 36 and 31 (Fig. 3) willexpand-and allow the neck 33 to pass into the opening 34. It ispreferred in one form of the upper portion of support 29 to have theends of 36 and 31 turned upwardly to a slight-extent, as shown in Fig.1, so that the extinguisher will not slide out .of the support, and sothat as the extinguisher is quickly pulled from the support 28, the cap23 will be forced from the nozzle and thereby allow th fluid I9 to beforced from the bag l8 without back pressure. It will be noted that thenozzle is so constructed that when the extinguisher is grasped by thehandle 26 and pulled outwardly, the collar 32 will create a leveragethat will assist the upper portion 29 of the support 28 in throwing thecap 23 from the nozzle. Other suitable means for supporting theextinguisher and for allowing the cap to be quickly and easily and moreor less automatically removed from the extinguisher as the extinguisheris drawn from the support, may be employed as desired.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, there is illustrated one form of. protectorfor the bag l8 and in this instance, two relatively flat pieces 38 and39 are held in contact with the bag by suitable tie elements 4!] and 4|which may have rubber construction therein. Also, knobs 42 and 43 areprovided so that the flat pieces will not slide from the bag. In thepreferred structure here shown, the lower ends of the flat pieces areprovided with short pieces 46 and 41 attached to each other preferablyhinged, and to the flat pieces. Ihese fiat pieces may be enlarged andmay even telescope sidewise with each other to allow the bag I 8 to beeasily squeezed. The main purpose of the protector is to provide oneform of protecting means for the flexible bag [8, and, if desired, toassist in squeezing the bag.

Another form of protecting means for the bag 18 consists of a sleeve orouter bag 48, as shown in Fig. 5. This sleeve or outer bag is flexibleand usually extends all around the bag l8. In the event the bag 18 is ofmaterial which will not'show printing so that instructions may beprinted on the side thereof, the protecting sleeve or cover bag 48 willbe made of material which will take printing so that the necessarydirections may be readily seen and read. In addition. the sleeve 48 mayhave a luminous strip or part formed thereon or therein so that theposition of the extinguisher may be noted during darkness.

Another modified form of supporting the bag [8, is shown in Fig. 5,wherein a suitable type of rib 49 is provided and has free ends 50 and5| whichhave holes 52 and. 53 therein to allow the bag l8 to be hungeither with the nozzle upright or with the nozzle down. This supportingrib 49 is shown in one form but it is to be understood that otherextensions from the bag I8 may be employed to hold the extinguisher inpredetermined or desired position In Fig. l, the nozzle is shown insection and illustrates two diameters of the hole -in the nozzle, thelarger diameter being preferred to be near the point of attachingor'sealing the nozzle to the bag I8. If desired, the same diameter ofhole may be made all the way through the nozzle.

In this type of extinguisher, which is capable of being squeezed toforce the fire extinguishing fluid therefrom, it is desired to obtainthe longest stream possible. 1 One form of providing this advantage isto form the hole in the nozzle in different Venturi sizes of diameters.With this improved nozzle to gain a longer stream, it is desired thatthe opening nearest the bag l8 shall have a maximum diameter-of fiveunits at position 56 and to then taper to the smallest diameter 51,which is of one unit diameter, and then the hole bells outwardly to forma final diameter of three units. These units of diameter andrelationship with each other have been found to be very satisfactory togain a good advantage herein, i. e. exceptionally long stream. Changesmay be made but they must be such that the length of the stream will beincreased. a Another modified form of opening in the nozzle is alsoshown in Fig.6, wherein the neck 59 of the nozzle is shown preferablytapered for receiving a ball 60 biasedinto position by a suitable spring6| forming a ball spring unloading structure. Normally, the ball 69closes the tapered portion 59 so that the extinguishing fluid l9 willnotpass from the bag except as the bag is squeezed or that the fluid l9has become expanded by reason of excessive heat or from some otherreason. Thus, the extinguishing material is usually maintained in thebag without dimunition for a long period of time without requiringchanging.

A still further modified form of nozzle is shown in Fig. '7 Where thereis shown a lower part of the nozzle extending into the bag (8 and isprovided with a friction surface joint 62 and the cooperating portion ofthe friction joint is illustrated at 63. This friction joint is heldtogether very and easily out of the bag onto the fire.

' guishing fluid may flow to the fire. case where the fire extinguisheris held with thenozzle downwardly, the material composing the,

the'fire. The diameter Z-lof the hole in the nozzle is larger at thelower part of the friction joint and whenthe bag drops, the fluid willfiow quickly Fig. 7 also shows the smaller diameter hole 2' 2 in thenozzle. The'oollar 32 and the handle 26"arejalso shown'in this figure.

It will be understood that when the fire extinguisher is supported bythe eyelet 53, with the nozzle pointed downwardly and when thethermocouple is then expanded and forces the separation of the parts ofthe nozzle at the friction joint, the extinguishing fluid willimmediately fall onto the fire or in the neighborhood of the fire insuch a manner as to extinguish it.

p In many instances it is desirable to have a fire extinguisher handywithout its being supported in a particular place, as for instance, byplacing the extinguisher in a desk or dresser drawer, but at some placewhere it may be grasped easily and pointed at a fire. In such aninstance, it is desirable to be able to remove the cap and the enlargedend 66 of the cap 23, as shown in Fig. 1,-

makes it easy to remove this cap.

It is also a feature of this invention that while the cap 23 fits verytightly onto the nozzle, it is desirable that this cap shall, in manyinstances, remove itself automatically so that the extin- In such a cap23 should be of a different material than the nozzle 20. By making thecap 23 of material which expands much more rapidly than the material ofnozzle 20, the cap will automatically fall from the nozzle when it hasbeen heated to a high temperature and thus drop off of the nozzle. Suchan arrangement of different materials whereby the cap material expandsfaster than the material of the nozzle may be constituted of two metalssuch as used in a bi-metallic element as noted at 64 in Fig. 7.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that it is preferred toprovide a fire extinguisher having a flexible bag that may be squeezedby one hand, or in Some instances by two hands, or in instances, whichare known in prior patents, between alligator jaws or other likestructures. It is preferred that the bag be transparent or at leastshall be translucent so that the amount of extinguishing material in thebag may be noted at any time.

The extinguishing fluid employed may be of any type for differentpurposes. For general purposes and for the preferred purpose herein, itis desired to use carbon tetrachloride. The bag 18 may be made of anysuitable material for the purpose, and may be exemplified bypolyethylene, nylon, vynol rubber, and other like materials which inpart at least may be squeezed. It will be noted also that means forprotecting the bag may be of any desired form for the purpose, so

modifications of means for supporting the aextingui-sher may Theprovided but it will be particularlymoted that one form is desired which"will force the .cap from the :nozzle as the extinguisher is quicklypulled from the support. This type of improved-support includes twoextensions. Other means may :be provided so that there will be a leveraction between the directing handle .vzseand the support for the purposeof forcing thecap from the nozzle. It will :also :bernotedthat apneaferred xtype of handle is herein shown for agrasp- I ing "the.extinguisher .and for .-'specifica"lly directly pointing the nozzle atthe fire. Another feature of the handle is that it allows ithe bag t .besqueezed against it and thereby increase the pressure .on the flluidwithin the 'bag to obtain a longer stream of the :fluid to the .fire andto direct thenozzle atthe same time.

It will further be noted that there are several preferred types ofnozzles so that the extinguisher may be used in different places and fordifferent purposes and so that the maximum velocity and ejector throw ofthe fluid will be obtained. These features are obtained by variousdiameters of holes in the nozzle. In addition, the nozzle may beconstructed so that it will be responsive to thermal operating pieces toallow the bag to be separated from a portion of the nozzle so that theextinguishing material may be dropped on to the fire and the bagpunctured by the heat of the fire and the fluid allow to fiow therefromas well as flowing out of the nozzle. These thermal elements may be oneswhich melt and allow the extinguisher to drop to the fire, but they alsomay be thermo-couples which function to exert energy and will separatevarious parts of the extinguisher from the support provided to hold theextinguisher in a preferred position.

It will also be noted that the bag l8 in its preferred construction willbe provided with a suitable holding means at the end opposite the nozzleso that the fire extinguisher may be supported from that end rather thanfrom the nozzle end as shown in Fig. 1.

It will further be noted that the nozzle may be attached, fastened orsealed to the bag at any particular place so that the nozzle may bepointed in any desired direction. Also the hole in the nozzle may have avaried contour and have an exit in the side of the nozzle, if desired.It is, however, preferred that the hole be straight through the nozzleand that any modification of diameters of the hole may be provided thatwill give a longer length of stream of the fluid to a fire. It may beoptional to include the ball spring unloading structure but in manyuses, this type of element is preferred.

It will be understood that various modifications and changes may be madein the preferred form of the invention herein, and such modificationsand changes are to be understood as part of this invention, as outlinedin the following claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a fire extinguisher the combination of a flexible bag for holdingfire extinguishing material in fluid form, a nozzle attached to onepoint of said bag for having said fluid pass through said nozzle whensaid bag is squeezed, and a cap for engaging said nozzle to prevent saidfluid from flowing from said body until said cap is removed, said capbeing made of a material which expands much more rapidly than thematerial of which the nozzle is made, whereby it will automatically dropoff the nozzle at high temperatures.

2. In a fire extinguisher the combination'of a flexible bag for holdingfire extinguishing materir al in fluid form, a nozzle providedwith anorifice of relatively large diameter'opening at one end into-the bag andat the other end into an orifice of smaller diameter, for having saidfluid pass through said nozzle when said bag is squeezed, said nozzlebeing firmly aflixed in an opening in said bag, a cap for engaging saidnozzle to prevent saidfiuid from flowing from said body until said capis removed, said cap being composed of'material that responds expansively to heat quicker than the material of said nozzle, and ahandleflrmly afiixed to said nozzle and extending therefrom along theside of said bag as filled with fire extinguishing fluid and being ofsufficient length to allow one hand to grasp said handle and said bagandto squeeze REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe file ofthis patent: V I UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date1,057,538= Gammeter Apr. 1, 1913 1,510,848- Hubbard Oct. 7, 19241,592,379 Merle "1 July 3, 1926 1,793,077 Frich Feb. 17, 1931 1,850,008Gore Mar. 15, 1932 1,918,848 Levinson July 25, 1933 2,222,267 SchnabelNov. 19, 1940

